NOTE: This is spoiler free
It goes without saying, but the writers at Valve are gifted. They have an incredible knack for timing, and the fiction they create draws me in like a moth to light. But why? What about the Portal universe has that effect on me?
On the most recent episode of The Danger Zone Podcast my co-hosts and I spent nearly an hour discussing the single player campaigns. While listening to them recount their experiences it hit me. The games are a complete antithesis to anything I have ever played, and as such are a breath of fresh air that I desperately needed.
For starters the antagonist is mildly bipolar and apologizes repeatedly. GlaDOS can, and often goes from happy to sad to angry in the span of five minutes. In a lot of games the antagonist is only seen at the beginning and/or the end. With GlaDOS you get to hear her descend into madness real time as you deviate further and further from the plans.
The jokes are dry and not unlike watching a British comedy. Like an episode of Monty Python where a lone human fights a seemingly endless struggle against a monomaniacal, megalomaniac robot. It's witty, sharp and consists of humor you may find in a Mensa meeting. She is infinitely smarter than you and communicates in a condescending tone. What's not to love about a robot who has an impeccable sense of comedic timing and uses it to play on your emotions?
I say this a lot, but the games give me the feeling of being a "complete experience". At the end of both I had an immense sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and happiness I typically only ever find in novels. At no point do I feel as though they're lacking in any way. They're just damn good, solid products.
Valve seems to be one of the few companies that "get it". Their games have an inordinate level of detail, polish, and love that other games should aspire to. To play through Portal 1 & 2 is like no other experience I have ever had. I consistently have a smile on my face and am always in awe at the effort they put into everything they do. Honestly, Valve, thank you for the hard work. I sincerely appreciate it.
